30 Easy Side Dishes for Party Sandwiches
These easy side dishes for sandwiches are perfect for filling out your buffet table next to that party sub! From pasta salads and veggies with dips, to easy chips and fresh fruit sides, your guests will love their options.
When you need an easy party menu to serve to a crowd for a special event, a fantastic option is to order a big party sub or a platter of sandwiches and then just mix and match some easy sides for the sandwiches to fill out the table.
Last month, my daughter had her Confirmation at 6 pm and I knew we wouldn't be walking in the door until after 7 pm that evening.
We still needed dinner before jumping into her party cake but I wanted something quick and easy I could pull out from the fridge and enjoy in minutes.
I pre-ordered a variety of sub sandwiches from our grocery store and had them sliced into smaller portions for my family to pick from.
I prepped the sides in advance and had the entire buffet ready to eat in under 10 minutes when we got home!
It was such a hit with my family, I will likely be doing this again when we have a high school graduation party to plan for.
Planning Your Party Sandwich Menu
Party sandwich platters are so popular because your guests can mix and match their plates with really easy options and almost everything can be prepped in advance.
I kept things extra easy for our Confirmation party and just focused on the items I knew my daughter would love most.
When planning your own party menu, start by ordering your party sub or prepping ahead your party sandwiches.
I offered a variety of turkey sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, and Italian sandwiches that had salami and ham.
Then I would recommend picking one recipe for each of these side dish categories:
- Chips & Dip
- Fruit Salad
- Pasta Salad or Green Salad
- Condiments and Sandwich Toppings
Fruit Salads
I prepped a fresh fruit salad just a couple hours before we left the house for the Confirmation ceremony.
Fruit salad can get runny if you prep it too far in advance. If you need to save time, just chop the fruits and store them individually. Toss them into a bowl together just before serving.
Our fruit salad had:
- Cantaloupe
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Sliced Kiwi
- Canned Mandarin Oranges (drained)
Piña Colada Fruit Dip
A fun alternative to a fruit salad would be to offer a fresh fruit platter with a creamy fruit dip on the side.
My piña colada fruit dip is a top reader favorite.
Mango Strawberry Salsa
My mango strawberry salsa is similar to a fruit salad but chopped up tiny enough to enjoy with cinnamon pita chips for dunking.
This would be a fun variation on "chips and dip" for sure.
Ambrosia Salad
Creamy pineapple marshmallow salad is a party favorite because it also works as a very light dessert.
Grape Salad
Fresh juicy grapes with crispy pecans on top? I have yet to meet someone who doesn't love this creamy grape salad!
Pasta Salads
Offering a meat-free pasta salad is an excellent choice for your sandwich buffet because vegetarians could use it as their main dish instead of the sandwiches.
A little spoonful also makes a delicious side for anyone who wants it with their sandwich, too.
Macaroni Salad
You can prep my southern macaroni salad in advance. I actually had made a batch for Memorial Day and we still had leftovers several days later. I set it out with the sandwich buffet and it was still perfect.
Pasta Salad with Grapes
I love my chicken pasta salad with grapes because it is so heavy on fresh vegetables and those juicy sweet grapes. You could skip the chicken if you want to keep it vegetarian friendly.
Orzo Salad
This delicious lemon orzo salad has fresh tomatoes and dill in the mix but is fantastic because the bowl won't take up tons of room on the buffet table. A little bit goes a long way.
Couscous Salad
I love all the crispy veggies and sweet oranges in my couscous salad recipe. It tastes amazing served warm or at room temperature.
French Potato Salad
Potato salad is always a picnic party favorite, but be careful with those recipes that need mayo if you'll be out in the heat. My French potato salad is made with a vinegar dressing and won't spoil in the sunshine.
Ranch Potato Salad
If the heat isn't a problem, you'll love this creamy ranch potato salad made with an easy homemade dressing loaded with fresh herbs. Crumble up some peppered bacon to make an easy bacon ranch potato salad, too.
Veggie Trays
A big veggie platter filled with raw bell peppers, baby carrots, pea pods, fresh broccoli florets, and cherry tomatoes is always appreciated, especially if you serve it with a delicious dip for dunking.
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Dill Dip
My creamy dill dip pairs perfectly with a raw veggie platter and would be my first pick.
Buttermilk Ranch Dip
This easy buttermilk ranch dip would serve double duty as a veggie dip or as a potato chip dip on the buffet.
Cold Spinach Dip
If you want a little more pop of color, this cold spinach dip is always a winner. You could serve it alongside the raw veggie platter but also include some crispy bagel chips as an alternative to traditional potato chips.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you want a warm side dish to serve with your sandwiches, this easy buffalo chicken dip works great with raw celery and baby carrots and a big bowl of tortilla chips.
Upgrade the Chips
A salty, crispy chip always pairs well with sandwiches. When you want to put in just a little more effort, consider offering a variety of potato chips flavors or both potato chips and tortilla chips for options.
I love to set out a bowl of sweet potato chips for color and something a little different.
Serving a few different chip dips will fill out your buffet table with super-easy options. You can buy dips at the store or make many of these easy recipes days before the party.
- Chip Dips: French Onion chip dip is always a hit, I also like to simply mix a container of sour cream with 2 tablespoons of this classic chip dip seasoning.
- Chips and Salsa: I recommend buying the fresh salsa in the refrigerated section of the grocery store if possible. Otherwise, my easy restaurant style salsa makes a huge batch using canned tomatoes and tastes so much better than most jarred salsas.
- Chip Toppings: Offer a build-your-own gourmet chips bar by serving fun chip toppings like blue cheese crumbles, chopped fresh green onions, and various sauces like my buffalo sauce or cilantro lime ranch.
Sandwich Toppings Platters
If you want to keep the sandwiches from keeping soggy as they sit on the buffet table, consider ordering a party sub with just the meats and cheeses and then offer all the fresh veggie toppings and condiments in a buffet bar setting instead.
Arrange the following on pretty platters and let guests top their sandwiches themselves:
- Fresh Tomato Slices
- Fresh Lettuce Leaves (like butter lettuce) or Shredded Lettuce in bowls
- Sliced Fresh Onions
- Pickled Red Onions
- Chow Chow Relish
- Bowl of Pickled Banana Peppers
Popular sandwich condiments to set out include:
- Dijon Mustard and/or Yellow Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Oil and Vinegar
- Sandwich Seasonings
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